My feelings on the Pixel C are no great secret, but Google's latest hardware product still undeniably delivers on the large-format, premium Android tablet promise the Nexus 9 kind of failed to live up to last year. The Pixel C is Nexus 10-like in its size, but the 1:√2 aspect ratio gives it a more squared-off shape, as opposed to the old Nexus 10's media-focused 16:9 layout.

While Google is positioning the Pixel C as a "pro" sort of device, aside from the keyboard dock, none of that productive promise is really yet delivered on. As such, for now the Pixel C is just like any other Android tablet, which may be desirable depending on just what it is you want out of a device like this. But a Surface Pro, it isn't.

The Pixel C could be a laptop stopgap for someone just looking for basic productivity app support (Google Docs and the Microsoft Office suite) and a web browser while also offering the portability and full-touch power of Android, though that's definitely a pretty narrow section of the overall tablet (or laptop) market.

Instead, the most common point of interest I see in the Pixel C to date is simply the desire for a high-end Android tablet, a la iPad. And that's just fine: I don't doubt the Pixel C will make good on at least that promise - it is quite clearly high-end. But is there really a strong demand, even among Android fans, for such a device? $500 is a lot of bread to put down for any tablet, even one as physically nice as the newest toy from Google's Pixel team.

Comments

No, I already have a PC that can do much more that I bought like an year ago and it's perfect for my use, for books and some videos I can do that in either my OPO or my OG Nexus 7.

Mr-Glass

Perhaps - off swappa used should be an option... ;)

shadowx360

Same, I'm going to get one but will wait for the price to drop first. I only Reddit on my tablet and I can't stand the smaller screen of an N9. My only choices are the Samsung offerings and the highest powered one I can get that is supported by CM is my Tab Pro 10.1. Pixel C will be perfect for me used.

Mr-Glass

Agreed - and Sammy's reputation of tablet OS upgrades lately has been abysmal...

Even if I had the money to burn, no. I had a beauty ASUS 1080P Chromebook and sold it after 6 months. I produce content on an N7 and cheapo BT kb - much more flexible, compact and 1/6 the cost.

Scott Harris

You realize this is an Android tablet, not a Chromebook, right?

Peanut

As a talking horse, I've found these smaller detachable keyboards very difficult to use with hooves--it's too hard to press only one key at a time, and you can forget complex multi key combos. On the other hand the larger screen helps keep the image in full view of both eyes, which for me are on opposite sides of my head. But overall it's a neigh, unfortunately.

I got my hands on a SP4 touch cover, and I really enjoy the typing experience on it. I have problems with the touchpad but I always use a wireless mouse anyway. User experience may vary, especially for animals :P

But yeah, I just can't see how Pixel C will take off as a successful product; there is hardly any use case for it. What was Google thinking when they release this product?

MJ

Agreed, I don't see the use case... The reason I would want a keyboard and larger tablet is to be productive. Android still doesn't even have multi-window support.

I currently have a Nexus 7 and it's fine to control my Chromecast and consume some media but not much else. My next tablet will be a Surface tablet with full Windows or a cheaper Surface like alternative.

Mark Washington

Get SP3 with the Surface pro 4 keyboard maybe ?

Mark Slavin

I'm in the same boat as you. I have a Nexus 7 but I want something bigger for reading and consuming media.
I'm seriously considering a 10" Windows tablet, I'm getting an Xbox for Christmas and am interested in the remote streaming functions. However, I'm heavily entrenched in the Android eco sphere (since G1). The weird thought for me is, can a Windows tablet do as much as my N7 (I use pocket casts almost every day on multiple devices so the synch funtion is important). I also have apps, games music and movies that I've bought from the play store.

Felix

Yeah..
I had all Nexus Tablets and the Shield Tablet.
But sold all for an ASUS Zenbook UX305.
12mm/1,2kg Ultrabook - 1000 times better than any Android Tablet with Keyboard.
Unfortunately! Because I really love Android.

Svnjay

'I've been a very bad girl,' she said, biting her lip. 'I need to be punished.'
'Very well,' he said and installed Windows 10 on her laptop.

Kenny Cornwell

Installing Windows 10 is more of a reward than a punishment imo.

Greg

Windows 10 is abysmal.

Kenny Cornwell

In your opinion.

I think Windows 10 is one of the best versions of Windows yet.

Nicholas Conrad

Right, but what does that mean, really, to be "one of the best". It's worse than 7 still, so what does it matter if it's second or third best Windows?

Kenny Cornwell

Eh, imo, Windows 10 is much better than windows 7. I would say that Windows 10 is the best version of Windows yet, but I said "one of the best" because I know there's people that would disagree with it being the best, but I think very few people would disagree with it being one of the best.

I could be wrong, but what you seem to be suggesting is: What's the point in using a product that's only "one of the best" when you could be using a product that's the best? To that argument, I'd say everyone has a different opinion on what the best is. If you think Windows 7 is the best version of Windows then use Windows 7, nothing wrong with that.

Alos, understand, there are no products or OSs that are objectively better than every other product or OS, so usually when someone says "one of the best" it's implied that there will be people who think it's the best and others who think it's only 2nd or 3rd best.

Nicholas Conrad

Too much 'it should just work' and not enough 'actually giving me the controls to make it work' makes 10 a terrible OS. If I wanted an OS I couldn't configure, I'd have a mac.

Kenny Cornwell

As someone who loved Windows 7 and customized it to my exact preferences all the time, I haven't run across anything limiting me from customizing Windows 10 to the same degree.

Nicholas Conrad

Well, if you've never gotten deep enough into the system to even need advanced networking menus, I think it's pretty safe to say you're 'customization' game is armature hour at best.

Kenny Cornwell

Right, because if I never have to specifically need advanced networking menus it by default means any customization I did is just amateur hour, and lets just totally disregard everything else. /s

No, I'm not, nor have had any desire to do such a thing. Your point is?

Nicholas Conrad

Oh no, I guess you really are incapable of grasping meaning from context. I'm worried about you kenny; you should talk to your doctor about that undiagnosed autism-spectrum disorder.

To spell it out for you though, the point is: I know you *feel* very strongly about your opinions, but when you say them out loud *actual SMEs* can tell you're completely uninformed.

Kenny Cornwell

Chill out man, what did I do to you? I just shared an opinion about Windows 10 but for some reason you've taken a personal vendetta against me.

sistemas

Woah! That was rude and uncalled for.
I would also consider me and other people with Autism to be smarter than you, at least I don't go around the internet saying things to hurt other people. :-(

Bob Hart

I share your opinion.
I had updated 7 Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 installations to Windows 10 on the free update scheme and have one Insider Preview installation.
All but the Insider Preview have been erased and reinstalled as Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and Windows 8.1 x64 Pro as they originally were with auto updating turned off.

shonangreg

At work today, they were in a panic. Someone, somehow let one of the Windows 7 computers, the main one in the office, update itself to Windows 10. No one knows how it happened (auto-updated or someone just clicked "yes" to an annoying pop-up). Nothing was working right, so some tech support guy eventually got it rolled back to 7, but the printer still prints only half pages, and no one has any idea of what to do.

This kind of thing should be impossible to screw up like that. It really makes me appreciate thin clients and Chromebooks and the like.

Kenny Cornwell

Agreed, I can appreciate thin clients and Chromebook too, but I definitely have a need for Windows or OSX, and, imo, Windows 10 is the best version of Windows to date.

mark

So you're running a business with consumer versions of windows - note most businesses don't hit this problem, they have full control over updates, and windows 10 isn't a free update for them anyway.

Does Chrome or Chrome OS never update itself then? The problem you describe certainly exists with android, and there's no way afaik for businesses to control it.

Adam

Small businesses don't necessarily have that level of IT control. Just because you're using Windows 7 Pro or Ultimate doesn't automatically get you network policies about what can and cannot be installed on each workstation.

Android CAN have a device policy setup if the company has setup Google Apps for Work. It allows the company to control what can be installed on the device, I think it can even block/force system updates.

renGek

Not true. Its just as easy to click on a ota and install it. If you install a ota earlier than most you'll find a lot of apps won't work because the apps dev haven't upgraded the app.

Nicholas Conrad

Played with one at best buy. It feels a lot better than the sp3 keyboard, but still wouldn't fix the fundamental issues with the form factor.

mark

It is interesting to see it only took 3 years to go from "PCs are dying, everyone should buy android and apple tablets" to "What's the point of devices like these, a Surface is better". That and the recent news of MS alone outselling apple (though note android still rules in tablet land at around 70% share, and I'm sure android will still continue to do well with or without the pixel c).

The Pixel C is not going to replace your laptop or workstation, but it looks like a great portable computer for media consumption, entertainment and light productivity. It is also the ONLY Android tablet I can, or will, recommend to anyone. So, yes, I will be getting one. But, I'm in no rush.

nah, but I want to chromebook pixel but the price is high for me.. FeelsBadMan

BFRC

As a long time user of a Nexus 10, I'd say no - I don't aspire to get one. In fact, I'm not really keen on getting a new tablet at all: Android for tablet-sized devices had never been more than "phone UI but supersized" (used to be better, but Google opted for more whitespace -.-), and on screens that large with fairly limited controls? I've got a smartphone for that part.

I'd like to see them realize that the Pixel C needs Android to be reworked into something more flexible: a bigger screen should allow for more poweruser controls. Like having multi window by default. Or apps that auto-adjust to wide scenarios (not from the app itself, but Android taking care of it for instance). Other tablets will benefit.

TheRealCBONE

No microsd, no LTE, no stylus, no 128 GB option. Why did they make this again, what with the lack of features combined with a high price?

Zero Mizukami

God, a 128 GB option would be suicidal. $699 makes it pricier than a Z4 Tablet, and that's also insanely expensive (compared to its competition, and what could be bought with such a large sum as well at least)

Henrik

I do not need the LTE.
I just set up a hot spot from my phone.

But yes. (micro)SD card, and No 128/256GB option is also what kills it for me.
A Stylus would be nice. When taking notes. or if drawing.
But I'm not taking that many notes. So not a must have for me. But I can see the use for it.

RoboBonobo

Don't get me wrong, I think Android is great. I just think iPad has a better tablet experience. On Android tablets too many apps don't utilize the extra screen real estate they're just bigger blown up versions of the phone app with large empty spaces filling the screen. And one review I saw that on the Pixel C there are some significant apps like Instagram that force you to use them in portrait mode, so when you're using it with the dock attached, everything would be sideways. I'm going to sit this one out until Android ups their tablet game.

Scott Harris

Your complaints are with the apps, then you say Android needs to up their tablet game? Google/Android doesn't make all the apps...

RoboBonobo

Fair point. Google doesn't make all of the apps. Apple also doesn't make all of the iPad apps, but iPad doesn't have the same issues. iPad apps need to be specifically designed to work on iPad for them to be supported properly. I think that extra step of needing to put extra work in to design the app for iPad causes app designers to think of what would be a better tablet experience in their app. Whereas Android is designed for apps to support any screen size natively, without the app designer needing to do any extra work to support tablets specifically. I think this is the underlying reason why so many Android apps are just blown up versions of the phone interface, which don't utilize the extra screen real estate you find on a >7" display.

Scott Harris

It's laziness more than anything, which is squarely the fault of the app creators, not Android. An app can be coded to properly adjust for optimal use on screen size without having to make two apps, just many seem to say "screw it."

RoboBonobo

That's what I'm saying. They don't need to specifically design their app to support tablets because the OS supports any screen size at the OS level. There's no added incentive to build good tablet support because the OS makes the app support tablets natively (and poorly). They already (kind of) have tablet support, so they say screw it and don't do the extra work to make it work well on a tablet.
On iOS the app designer needs to put extra work in just to get their app to even work on tablets, period. The phone app doesn't automatically support tablets at all, so there's an extra incentive, built into the OS, for them to do the extra work, if they want to support tablets at all.

What I'm getting at is that the reason one tablet has these issues and the other one doesn't, lies in the differences between the two OSes at the system level.

No real Instagram or Periscope apps on iPad yet.
Deal breaker for me.
On my Nexus 7 (2013) Instagram and Periscope work great.

trwb

Ouch

newtonfb

Android tablets are useless. I own a Nexus 7 2013 and it just sits on the desk. They are just nothing you can really do with them that you cannot do with your phone. I just use my phone to chromecast if needed. When I'm sitting on my couch I just use my 14in chromebook. If the pixel ran Chrome OS than maybe, but its just basically a big phone , just like an Ipad which to me is uselss

I use my N7 2013 for word processing with a BT kb and for watching TV shows and movies before I go to bed. More enjoyable than on my phones (even my glorious 5.96" N6) but not annoying like watching on a laptop.

Agreed that crApple ipads are useless except as coasters.

sistemas

I still use my 2012 Nexus 7, albeit only for YouTube videos.

Mark Washington

That speaker though!

sistemas

I use headphones so it's not a problem for me. :-P
If I wanted to watch videos without them I would use my M8 :-)

Zero Mizukami

If you have a shitty phone, a good tablet is a blessing and a half. They're normally cheaper than similar spec'd phones, and you aren't locked to what a carrier offers in choices. Back when I had an Optimus V, I also had a Nexus 7 (2012), now I might be getting a Galaxy Tab S2 alongside my LG Volt. That's just my opinion though.

newtonfb

True. Ive got a N6

TriguyRN

I also have an N6 and its big enough for media consumption and small enough to be a phone. Perfect for me :)

Christopher Bement

They're great if your car doesn't have a screen. I use a N7 2013 LTE as my entertainment system in the car. Not that I watch video but it has all of my music and audiobook stuff on it + Automate.

dude

I never use my Android tablet either, when I want to do mobile things I use my phone and if I want to consume media I use my laptop connected to my monitor instead of watching on a 8" screen. It seems with big screen Android devices coming out at affordable prices lately, Android tablets really don't get much attention either.

Nicholas Conrad

Tablets are awesome for movies on the plan. Unfortunately, that's about it.

Already have one. Used it all yesterday for work. Completely disagree that it is not a "productivity" laptop.

Mike

As a "productivity tablet" it'd be junk. Don't buy it for that reason, and don't get the keyboard.

But as a big tablet, it is wonderful. It is what the Nexus 10 never quite was and the Nexus 9 certainly wasn't -- fast, great screen, premium construction.

I don't think most people need big tablets in this era of 6" phones and great cheap ultralight Chromebooks, but if you want an Android tablet, this one is excellent, and there's no reason to consider anything else.

TomsDisqusted

> no reason to consider anything else.

Uh, price. Or weight. If you like reading with a tablet then just about anything will work better for being lighter.

Ben

I have an iPad air 2 and I love it so much. No matter what they say, iOS is 10x better than Android on tablets still.

mrjayviper

same here. but I also have a 10in Xperia tablet which runs fine. But I only use that for Android where I spent too much money on in-app...

mark

Those enormous icons scaled up from an iphone are so much better. 10x bigger, perhaps...

supremekizzle

Surface pro>pixel anything...

XperiaPolice

Microsoft go home, you're drunk.

yt

to be fair, you have give MS credits for what they've done to the Surface Pro lineup. They are such a useful tool for college/university student, taking lecture notes in a well-organized digital folder on onenote, and if there is a need to run office or computational programs, it will have no problem running them at all. I'm seeing so many people around me starting to embrace this as a daily laptop in and out of classrooms, and then I decided to pick one up for myself.

The hardware is amazing, the portability and usability lived up to its hype, but it's a shame that the software bugs still exist here and there, waiting for software fixes that will take months to arrive. And of course, that price could be a little more affordable...

I've owned two Android tablets in the past (Galaxy Tab 10.1 which was crap, and then I gave another shot at the Nexus 7 2013 but still didn't end up using it at all). I just don't like how android runs on a tablet, and I can't see why I need to lug around a laptop and a tablet to school everyday when a Surface Pro can replace them all in a lighter and more usable package.

Zsolt V

I don't have to do shit.

Kenny Cornwell

You do realize no one said you had to do anything, right?

Zsolt V

"to be fair, you have to give MS credits"

Please translate.

Kenny Cornwell

Is your username XperiaPolice?

Nicholas Conrad

I give MS credit; the Surface is pretty sexy. ...But a total dud for productivity and usability. I replaced my i5 SP3 with a $200 Chromebook.

Nicholas Conrad

Have an i5 SP3. It's just terrible, wish I had gotten a real laptop instead for several hundred dollars cheaper.

Mark Washington

Get the Surface Pro 4 Keyboard to attach the the SP3 . I think that will drastically help

Nicholas Conrad

I thought about that: the key travel and typing feel of it are much better, and especially as a left-hander, the centered trackpad of the SP4 keyboard would make a huge difference for me.

But honestly there are bigger problem with the device. I never felt comfortable with it in my lap, there are just too few ports, even with the expensive dock, multi-monitor support was hit-or-miss, the resolution was too high to look at for long periods comfortably (and the 3:2 aspect ratio isn't supported in Win10, so I can't just make it smaller) and Windows 10 overall is barely an improvement on 8.

I've already replaced it with a Chromebook that's suiting 95% of my needs for $200. Spending $150 to try to fix just one of the SP3's problems doesn't seem like a great value proposition at this point.

m477

> resolution was too high to look at for long periods comfortably
Wait, what?

yt

guess he was referring to the tiny text due to the high pixel density... there is a scaling % in the display setting, set it to 200% and you are good...

Nicholas Conrad

I hacked the win8 display driver to spoof a win10 certification trying and get support for that damn 3:2 aspect ratio. You don't think I tried increasing the text size first? Gimmie a break. No, ditch that pos and buy a $200 Chromebook and you are good.

Nicholas Conrad

Higher resolution = smaller display elements. Text is too small; I shouldn't have to squint at a $1,600 device. Windows10 has native support for dozens of resolutions, but only in 4:3, 16:9, and 16:10 aspect ratios, not the SP's 2:3. So I couldn't reduce the resolution (to increase text size) without causing other display distortions. There are display drivers for it, but they're not Win10 certified. In previous versions it would warn you, but you could still install stuff if you want. Win10 just blocks uncertified drivers altogether. It has 'increase text size' options, but they don't work in all programs, sometimes causing other issues with window elements, and they cause problems with external displays. To sum up: The resolution is too damn high!

H.

As an owner of both: No, not really. The Surface Pro is terrible if used as a tablet. It's however a decent ultra light laptop and a great piece of hardware.
Few Apps that support touch UI, you have to resort into Explorer and Desktop programs all the time, even just to change settings.

And the SP4 at least still has a damn lot of bugs that need to get exorcized. Battery life is still terrible because it doesn't go in sleep state when switched off (MS won't even start fixing this until next year), Bluetooth connection getting unusable (not lost, just no sound any more) until reboot, Wifi randomly not working, still some display driver crashes, random reboots, keyboard no longer responding, touchscreen no longer responding. And these are just the issues I have personally encountered. If you look around other people have those and even more.

yt

I agree that SP4 is full of bugs and it's rather annoying to see those little quirks when we're paying a premium price for such a device.

but I have to respectfully disagree with you on SP being terrible as a tablet. For me, the tablet app that I used most often is PDF reader, and Microsoft has a greater reader app and scrolling through pages are so smooth. I have never seen such smooth experience reading PDFs on Android, phone or tablet, no matter how many different apps I've tried (and even my $99 HP Stream 7 with Windows 8 have better PDF scrolling than any of my android devices). And to add to that, the active stylus allows me to scribble and add notes to the pdfs. SP4 might not be the best tablet for media consumption for its lack of apps, but hey it is meant to be a productivity device. Any multimedia or gaming apps can run just fine on my Nexus phone, and I believe that is more than sufficient for most people (most android apps are not well designed for tablet ui anyways)

Scott Harris

If I am going to drop that much cash on a tablet, it better be a laptop replacement like a Surface Pro.

Zachary Ruhlen

I work at Best Buy and it's shocking how many people take this route

WORPspeed

Maybe discounted by the time Android N comes to fix its problems and there is no better alternative (hardware/cost wise at the time)

TypoCorrecto

If this was a ChromeOS device I'd consider it...

Scott Harris

Seriously? ChromeOS is awful.

supremekizzle

Not necessarily awful depending on your needs....but severely limited

XperiaPolice

No , android is horrible on a device like this, ,chromeos is essential

Scott Harris

ChromeOS is severely limited, one of the most, if not the most, limited OSes on the market.

catalysto

If you think Chrome OS is more limited than a mobile OS like Android or iOS, then you have no idea what you're talking about.

Scott Harris

Unless I unlock my Chromebook to install a different OS, it is without a shadow of a doubt far more limited of an OS compared to Android. Even with fixing it so I can install Android apps on it, it was still very limited given how many just won't work on it. The Chromebook I have has been gathering dust for months because it's so limited. Quite possibly the biggest waste of $200 I have ever spent in my entire life.

Nicholas Conrad

I occasionally remote into a terminal server for Windows specific tasks, but my daily driver at work is a $200 Chromebook that kicks the stuffing out of the i5 SP3 I replaced with it as a productivity device.

TriguyRN

Chromeos is actually pretty nice for a lot of people. As a high school student its nice to have an inexpensive, lightweight Chromebook for studying purposes. I can go into a coffee shop or take notes in class with a smooth running machine that just has the essentials I need. Trust me, I know that windows or osx machines have their place (I have a very nice windows 10 desktop at home) but, Chromebooks are very nice for lots of use cases.

No, that's not what I mean. The crouton installation itself is fine. The issue is with Virtualbox/VMWare, something about the filesystem. I can replicate it and tell you exactly what the error text says

me me

Ahh. Well in Linux I reformatted the SD card to ext4.

ChromeOS always want to mount it no-exec so you can't execute anything off SD, so in your Chroot then

sudo mount -oremount,rw,exec

That Exec bit without it tends to screw something up eventually.

Finally, ChromeOS puts your SD to sleep if you're actively doing something which ChromeOS is aware of so you need

WTF dude, can't you follow a thread? I'm replying to a comment. Read that comment, maybe pick up a context clue or two.

Kenny Cornwell

Does the edit I made in the comment before you replied to it not pick up on the context?

Your reply just repeated what I said in my edit and I had a rebuttal to go along with that. Given that specifying what the figures are was your reply when I had already specified that in my edit, I just assumed you never saw my edit, and rather than repeating what I had already said I just said to refer to my edit.

Nicholas Conrad

Edit was made after my reply, which is why I bothered to reply in the first place.

Sergei Garcia

What?

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

It should've been both

TypoCorrecto

...to you...

me me

ChromeOS complements Android, there are things I can do on my ChromeOS I can't do on Android and vice versa. Android has more apps support, but ChromeOS I can multitask better and have more Chrome plugins such as more Adblock type blocking.

If I take a larger Android phone and a Chromebook I can do everything I need. I unlocked my Chromebook and can boot Linux and even a virtual Windows for that rare rich Windows need.

Kawshik Ahmed

If Google makes a Full version of Chrome Browser with Extension support for Android and put Remix OS or Light Biz OS (both based on Android) style windowing on it then what will be the need of Chrome OS in the future? Essentially Android can become Chrome OS and more if Google is Smart.

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

No, that'd ruin it, and no way this is worth 500$ then

TypoCorrecto

Not worth that much with Android on it...

At least I'd get more productivity with ChromeOS. Not to mention it looks like a Chromebook Pixel for half the price...

There are a lot of features going to come for this device, but usually I don't buy promises.
Google should sell products when they are ready.

Tony

In order to use this as laptop replacement it needs to run websites i watch with flash video, wondering if any apps help with that (I know google removed flash a while ago)?

sistemas

To be honest flash needs to die. Even YouTube doesn't use it anymore. :-/

Jason

No, though not because I think the concept of an Android tablet with a productivity focus is worthless, only because I already bought one months ago, a Dell Venue 10 7000. I feel like the Dell has a superior design, the way the keyboard attaches makes it more laptop like in form, it has a microSD slot, and the keyboard is backlit with a touchpad

XperiaPolice

Not without chromeos

Andrew

I bought one, received it on Friday and I love it. Granted I'm just using it as a tablet for web browsing and video content, and that's all I require it to do.

If I wanted some hardcore productivity device I wouldn't have gotten this, but then to compare it to the Surface and iPad Pro is kind of unfair as those devices are much more expensive.

It's the best Android tablet I've used by far. And suits my needs.

Zero Mizukami

If it had an SD card slot and the 32 GB version was a bit cheaper, I'd definitely try and get one, but $499 for 32 GB of unexpandable storage is a giant waste of money, especially for a device pegged for productivity. As for the 64 GB model, at that price, may as well just either build a low end gaming desktop, or get a multimedia laptop.

me me

I bought a refurbed and still own a Nexus 10. I bought and upgraded my Chromebook.

Android does not benefit from larger screens, you get diminishing returns. From my $400 Chromebook I get more productivity, I got windows, tabs, etc and so lots more multitasking, I can do things like have Youtube playing and go to another webpage, I can play video in a window concurrently, etc.

Android on a phone is great, on a small tablet which then allows your phone to be more focused as a just a phone (tablet+phone is better than phablet) but much above 8"-9" the usefulness levels off you aren't really able do any more things or any better it is simply a bigger screen gain.

I find a 5" phone and a Chromebook between them offers the best spread of features for money.

person

I want to but by the time they fix the software there ought to be new hardware.

Henrik

Nope. To small storage and no SD Card reader that could let me expand it.

Leandro Brandão

I always wanted a pure android tablet with good build quality stereo speakers, powerful hardware and high resolution screen, then I was hyped about the pixel c. But now I just confirmed that I just don't want an android tablet anymore, is not a good OS for tablets.

andy

I'll wait for the 2nd gen.

mrjayviper

if there is a second gen. History suggests otherwise. :)

Ysstog

You mean how there's only ever been one Nexus and one Pixel? That history?

mrjayviper

have you need a second gen pixel chromebook? don't think so. Also we're not talking about nexus devices here but Google designed and built Pixel devices. :)

those are just as conclusive. First one night be referring to the lack of it in the published specs like everyone else. Has no one bothered to even give any more detail than just yes or no? For instance test with a gps app like GPS Status Monitor?

I guess they're trying to make it a laptop with Android type deal and they don't typically put GPS on laptops do they?

mark

Yes, I can excuse the lack of GPS on my windows 2-in-1 for the same reason. OTOH, my 2-in-1 is half the price, and still offers much more functionality as a laptop - the flip side would be that android still has a lot to offer as a tablet, so it's less good if it doesn't have a feature common to even cheap android tablets.

Web-based maps actually handles this really nicely by automagically using the current location of your Android phone. It also simply doesn't offer turn-by-turn navigation. So a Chromebook or Windows laptop not having GPS is less of a problem. Android really needs GPS for Google Maps to be a useful app unless you're always near a Wi-Fi network.

Ben

I confirm there is no GPS sadly :(

TigerMike901

Between my 5.2" phone, a Nexus 7 13, and a Chromebook (of which all of them brand new *combined* cost me LESS than the Pixel C with keyboard would), there is absolutely no reason to buy the Pixel C. When the price tanks to $150 due to poor sales, I'll consider it to replace the N7, but that's about it.

:—-

iPad Pro > Pixel C

Bring all the hate to me...

Hhhh

This isn't Android central. There are some people here that arent blindly obsessed.

Patrick Smithopolis

It's your opinion. Most people don't care.

Zero Mizukami

Although I agree the iPad Pro is better than the Pixel C, it has (in my opinion) the exact same problem as the C- the price. The iPad is competing directly with both Windows laptops AND MacBooks, and you can get a killer Windows device for much cheaper (or for the same price as) the iPad, while the Pixel is trying to compete with laptops, but it too isn't good for the value when you can buy so many better things for the same price, if not a bit cheaper. Tablets are great, but they have a long way to go before their price is truly justified.

Costs $500 for a cheap galaxy tab in Australia. If we could get them for that price here, it would be the top selling tab beside apple.

Abhi

Whenever I see keyboard add-ons, I feel the need for a touchpad.... I would hate alternating between the screen and keyboard. I like the Surface for that reason (Don't own it), despite me being invested in the Android ecosystem.

dude

I can buy a decent Core i5 Windows laptop with that money and do actual things.

Zsolt V

But then have you have to run Windows

Kenny Cornwell

You say that like it's a bad thing.

mark

As much as I'm a fan of regular PCs to do real things, note that (at least in the UK), core i5 laptops that are the same price as this will typically be less portable and have poorer battery life. To get those you have to either spend a lot more, or go for a lower power atom (which admittedly is still on par with arm, and more useful with windows, but it won't be an i5).

Alisha

Nope. Simply because my laptop and phone are sufficient enough for me and I have no use for a tablet, whether it be Android, iPad and even most Windows tablet (due to poor specs) at that price.

Furthermore, I can easily find a good deal on a i3-u laptop/Chromebook and a cheap tablet for about the same price this holiday season...

If I had the money? Definitely. The hardware is amazing, especially the design and build. It may not be a good productivity device, but I'm sure it's a great Android tablet. Google needs to get more people working on stuff like multi window. We've known they've been working on it for what, two years now? It should not take this long to get it done. Samsung and other OEMs have had the functionality for a few years now, and even though they don't support all apps, is still a better solution than not having it at all. Multi-window is literally the only OEM feature I really care about, and once stock has it (hopefully supporting all apps from jump), I'll have no regrets going back to Nexus.

Edit: Google also needs to hurry the hell up with implementing themes into stock. It's been in AOSP for a couple of years now, if not more. Why are they so slow these days? I'd love for them to go back to a quicker update schedule.

Mark Washington

I agree

Hamdi Ferchichi

I chose "No - definitely no."
If you asked "Are you buying a Pixel C?" The Pixel C that comes with the keyboard included with the same price or in the range, I'll choose "Probably not"

Ryan

I'm never paying full price for an android tablet as long as its nVidia. Been burned 3 times by them (thankfully my N9 was discounted).

Bruce Wayne

Yeah....no.

David Hyman

When I compare my nexus 6p to my iPad I can get so much more done faster than I can on that tablet. Things like copy paste using native clipboard is significantly faster than ios. Using 1password keyboard for password filling is light years ahead of ios. Being able to have apps that write over others is a huge time saver too. And the share menu makes moving information around so fast. So maybe it's the fact I have never used an android tablet but to me it seems like you would be able to get a lot of things done much better than something that can be done on an apple device.

bluebanzai

Does nobody get that this is just the hardware to introduce the multitask functionality that will be available in Android N? If you're looking for a premium tablet-sized device with staying power then this is the device to get...you'll just have to wait for it to bake first.

Nicholas Conrad

It's one thing to wait for a $200 Nexus to bake. $650 is 'already baked' pricing.

Alexander Gee

I'd take a Samsung S2 tablet over this. They are insanely light and pretty.

Brian Fowler

I love my Tab S2. Using it to post this.

Switched it to the Google Now launcher, of course

PoisonApple31

you go girl!

Nicholas Conrad

No trackpad = no productivity.

Gary Oberbrunner

If it had a stylus and great digitizer (like the Galaxy Note 10.1 or Surface Pro) I'd strongly consider it. But without writing and drawing capability, a tablet is useless to me.

ScratchC

I find that replacing my SurfacePro with an Android tablet is going to be a tough task. The Surface was slow to catch on. (the product was ahead of its time) It seems the problem with doing away with laptops and replacing them with tablets, Is...That we are ready. The Hardware is ready. The software though... It's just not there yet... And though I love my SurfacePro, Its far from perfect. Far from reaching its full potential.

I really need to replace my Nexus 10, and this looks like the best tablet to replace it with. I want a screen that's at least 10 inches so I never got the Nexus 9. The future updates to Android should make this tablet even better over time too. It's pretty expensive but at least I don't need the keyboard so that saves me a little bit of money.

YuCMi

The day a Nexus tablet with a digital pen input is released is the day I'll buy another one to replace my Nexus 10. Like seriously Google, add digital pen support to your tablets already so I can buy a new one already.

blindexecutioner

For the price go with a a Surface and get a truly useful device to go along with your phone.

Ysstog

I'm a writer. I do two things with a computer: write, and edit PDFs of writing. That's it. I had a Surface Pro 3. The keyboard was terrible. Windows itself is terrible.

I purchased a Pixel C.

PoisonApple31

Surface Pro 4 keyboard is much improved and works with the SP3.

blindexecutioner

You must not write much then. As a writer I would think you'd use a full sized anything over the Pixel.

Richard Markert

Surface Pro is the only tablet that exists.

Zsolt V

But then you are forced to run Windows, so no....

Richard Markert

Android is terrible on a tablet.

Henrik

Most comment I have seen about the Surface is either get the keyboard. Or the keyboard is the best.
So seems like the surface is not a good tablet. But a laptop... Where a realy laptop is cheaper

Richard Markert

You need the keyboard to do productive with on it, same as you need with ANY tablet you want to do work on.

Surface Pro is the most useful, versatile tablet on the market today. You can do everything on it you need to do, because it runs Windows x64. There is no competition for that.

renGek

I love android and most things google does beyond cell phones. But I really can't see the use of pixel c. Yes its beautiful with great hardware but as a productivity tool it really has little to offer. In light of the new surface products it would be difficult for Google to convince me otherwise. I hope this is a wake up call for Google in that android is limited beyond mobile utility. Reversible usb and new emojis can't cut it. At least google has a better plan then apple who is completely hopeless vs surface.

H.

Already did. Love it. Only the edges around the glass could be a little bit less sharp to make it perfect.

Stephan Reich

If it dual-booted Android and Chrome OS, at this price, I would strongly reconsider buying this device.

If Android N significantly improve the tablet experience I would consider buying this. It's great hardware and I like the idea with the keyboard. But at this price it's not worth it for me when the software is not on par with the hardware.

alexander96

If I'm in the market for a new tablet i will seriously considering this tablet.. If i'm in a market for a laptop replacement.. Then absolutely no.

This thing is a great android tablet, imo a successor to the nexus 10..

Morten Ulv

Maybe when multi window arrives.

JaySee

These useless things will sit on shelves collecting dust until someone comes up with an easy to install Linux distro for it.

After the inevitable huge price drop, I'll sell the N9 and get one. But not before.

godutch

I want a 16:9 amoled and 8" diagonal with snapdragon 820 (or exynos equivalent) but not even samsung makes that, they offer last years soc and an aspect ratio from a previous millenium

fcjan

Not available in my country so nope...

Felix

I had all Nexus Tablets and the Shield Tablet.
But sold all for an ASUS Zenbook UX305.
12mm/1,2kg Ultrabook - 1000 times better than any Android Tablet with Keyboard.
Unfortunately! Because I really love Android.

Jure Zitnik

Nexus 10 AR is not 16:9 but 16:10.

Murilo

To anything that has the word "buy" the answer is "No"!

Kenny Cornwell

So you just never buy anything at all?

Murilo

Sorry, I expressed myself wrong. Add the word "Nowadays" to the begining of the phrase...

wrkerr

I think it looks and sounds like a great device, it's just out of my price range. I bought the N9 last year, new in the box, on Swappa for half price, and have been really pleased with it. If I could do the same this year with the Pixel C, I would, but I think that's unlikely.

Dragos Lucian

The way I see it, is that I can't get any tablet unless it's got a full OS on it. I already have a smartphone to offer me the Android experience that I like, so I don't see a reason why I would get a tablet with basically the same things on it. The screen size? LOL. I have a laptop for that. Everyone should learn from Microsoft cause they did a very good job in that department with their Surface devices. Phones are getting bigger and bigger every year, and soon 6" will be the standard screen size people will feel comfortable using. There's no need for tablets with a smaller screen than 12", and on a device with minimum 12" screen, you can operate a full OS without any trouble.

mark

Although I love my 10" windows 2-in-1 - on the small size for a full OS, yes, but makes it really portable.

Pablo Romo

I have a surface pro 3, there's no need for more.

b0b

The poll is missing:

"Fuck no, I want this tablet to be an epic fail""

Kenny Cornwell

Why would you want a product to fail? I mean, how dare other people find a use for and enjoy a product you don't!

b0b

Because I'm sick of castrated computing devices. If people do not buy them, maybe manufacturers will stop making them ?

Kenny Cornwell

Why would someone choose to not buy a product that they can find a use for and enjoy?

It's not like every single tablet out there just runs a mobile OS, there are tablets and have been tablets out there for many years that are full computers. Just buy the products you enjoy and leave everything else to the people that may only want a mobile tablet. No need to actively want a product to fail simply because you aren't in the product's target demographic.

b0b

My main gripe is mainly this new breed of tablets that convey the message of being a "laptop replacement" or "Pro" but with a limiting mobile OS with so many restrictions compared to a desktop OS.

Kenny Cornwell

Not everyone has a need for a full desktop OS in a tablet, and there's a bunch of tablets out there with a full desktop OS for the people that do.

Marcel Ulbrich

How does this affect you? They won't stop making computers in favour of tablets, so you can still buy what you like.
But if some hypothetical grandma wants to look at digital family photos, read email and skype without having to deal with 129 system updates that mean booting or shutting down the computer take 10 minutes, antivirus, flash and java update popups and tons of other useless stuff, I'm happy that there is an option to get hassle-free devices like Chromebooks and tablets with limited OSs.

Kenny Cornwell

I'd be extremely hard pressed to justify getting this, or any android or iOS tablet, over a Surface Pro 4, and fwiw, I'd have a difficult time justifying this over an iPad. The Pixel C itself is great, but Android on tablets just isn't quite there yet.

no thanks. Surface Pro 3 and Surface Book now....I think the need for one is non-existent.

JD

The C Stands for crap. It's basically out classed by everything it's competing against. Except maybe it's own buddy the Nexus 9. The Shield tablet maybe but that has game streaming access. This is Google's Surface RT.
Sure Multi-Window is coming in Android N so Google is asking me to spending the money and wait a year with a crippled device while they half bake their OS. No Thanks.

Jordan L

I have a Nexus 9 with Folio keyboard. I feel like it's almost the same as the Pixel C. I really want an 8.9" Surface device.

Ben

Got one delivered on Friday and have used it over the week-end for casual gaming, youtubing, web browsing, reading, etc ... I absolutely don't regret buying it, a very different feeling than when I got the Nexus 9 last year, hated the thing right out of the box. This being said, I likely will not get the 200 CAD keyboard unless it comes down 50% in price. To me, this is a large, pure Android tablet, period. And this is exactly what I wanted and I couldn't be happier with it. It is not a productivity device and I did not expect it/wanted it to be.

MyCountryMyPrideMyGuns

Pretty much everyone that has actually purchased one seems to agree with you. Everyone seems to love it. It seems all the negative reviews are based on "Android" on a tablet, not the tablet itself (I'm talking about people who have purchased it, not reviews of pre or early production models sent out for review which seemed to have been hit or miss). If someone knows what to expect from any Android tablet and you're looking for a high-end device to do just that, then the Pixel C is among the best out there.

Wolf0491

I bought the $35 amazon tablet on black Friday haha. Put google play on there and does all my tablet needs lol

What I really want is an updated Galaxy Note 10.1. At this point my only tablet left is a Asus Transformer Prime and it's old and slow. I want a large tablet with a decent resolution and it better be damn fast. This checks those boxes, albeit it doesn't have a stylus which I find to be really useful.

If Samsung release something decent at CES, then I'll probably get that. Otherwise it's between this and a Sony Z4 tablet.

Jonathan Daggar

Decent hardware, but not for that price. Poor software integration. It would take near fire-sale prices to get me to buy one.

Curtis Scafe

While searching for laptops for my stepson I thought I saw the pricing was $999 so I hit no on this. But being that it is $500, that's not bad at all. I don't know that I would buy one as I don't really have the need for a tablet. But why pay $500 for a tablet when you can pay less for a Chromebook? Plus another $150 for the keyboard? So $650 for a tablet that does less or the same as a Chromebook that cost $300

Leonardo Baez

A difference. A chromebook runs Chrome OS, this tablet runs Android.
I think you can do more with android than with Chrome OS.

Leonardo Baez

Can the Pixel C tablet be considered a Nexus 10 2015? Or is anything different of a regular nexus tablet?

MyCountryMyPrideMyGuns

Nexus products are typically designed and manufactured in a partnership between Google and and OEM (Asus, LG, etc.). Pixel products (the Chromebook Pixel being the only other one apart from the C) and designed and manufactured by Google. They tend to be best in class with respect to hardware (and are usually priced to match). Nexus devices usually offer excellent price to performance, but they're not usually top end. Android is going to be pretty much the same on most devices running Marshmallow (performance variations dependent on hardware of course). It's really just a high end Android tablet. If you're in the market for such a thing, it's a great choice.

Leonardo Baez

But still a vainilla android tablet from google. I call this marketong gimmick. It should be called Nexus 10

Marty

I dearly wish i could buy a Pixel C. Its a slick piece of kit, for sure. No available funds for it, though.

Cyrus Nazarian

Too pricy to afford on a grad student budget.

lostboardmayhem

Nope, glad I got the Venue 10 though because detachable keyboards are great for when using something like RDP

Fatal1ty_93_RUS

I'd like Google to first release an LTE version of this, and second - to provide an actual multiwindow experience, I don't care if it's like Windows 8 or iOS - just give me something to enhance the usability of a product you push as a productivity device (which it isn't really)

Bob Hart

I have an 64GB Samsung Android tablet and a 256GB Surface Pro.

The Android collects dust while the Surface Pro gets the daily duty.

I'll pass on another Android tablet but lov'in my Nexus phones

likurges

lol no, why would I buy it since android on tablets is just meh and can get a cheaper tablet with similar performance

Bootleg Zani

I played with this both times I went to the Nexus Studio last week in Manhattan and while I love it for what it is the cost is just too high and Android seems like a last ditch effort for the device. They really shouldn't have scrapped Project Athena. That would have probably run perfectly on it.

Except the nuance is different.
It depends what this survey is trying to capture. If only whether yes or no we'll buy one, they should stick to 2 options.
Otherwise provide a better range of options.
Not something in between.

Welfi_1988

Would buy it instantly if the price was a little lower... AND, of course if there was google play store in Luxembourg... which isn't...

Felix

71% of AP readers won't buy it.
And we're the Android-Technology-Enthusiasts!
When we won't buy it who else?

mattcoz

In the current state: No, definitely not.

The Android tablet experience just isn't good enough. Hopefully that will change with Android N, but I've been saying that with every release since getting my Nexus 10.

me me

I will when its <$300. Some day there will be a flash sale then I'll grab one. I have a Nexus 9 LTE and I don't really need LTE it was just a $340 impulse decision the day someone claimed my 8" tablet.